Canada’s men’s soccer head coach Jesse Marsch has assembled a group of 21 players for a training camp in California from Thursday to January 18. The camp in Irvine does not coincide with a FIFA international window, prompting Marsch to select players who are currently out of season, with all except one player based in North America.
The Canadian team is set to play against Guatemala on January 17 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles in a Tier 1 international fixture that will impact FIFA’s world rankings. Canada is presently ranked 27th globally and third in CONCACAF, trailing the U.S. and Mexico, while Guatemala holds the 94th position globally and ranks 10th in the region.
“We’re thrilled to have an additional opportunity for a men’s national team camp in preparation for a significant year,” Marsch expressed in a statement on Tuesday. “We have a highly skilled roster of North American-based players eager to showcase their abilities.”
In their previous encounter at the Gold Cup quarterfinals in June 2025, Canada faced Guatemala, with the Central American team prevailing 6-5 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. Canada played with 10 men after winger Jacob Shaffelburg received a red card in first-half stoppage time.
Among the players invited to the California camp are LAFC’s Shaffelburg and Mathieu Choiniere, as well as Toronto FC’s Richie Laryea and Jonathan Osorio, all of whom are potential World Cup contenders.
Other camp attendees, including defenders Kamal Miller and Joel Waterman, alongside midfielder Jayden Nelson, are aiming to secure a place in Marsch’s 26-man World Cup squad. The competition for the third goalkeeper spot behind Dayne St. Clair and Max Crepeau includes Luka Gavran and James Pantemis.
Notably, Matteo de Brienne is the sole European-based player in the camp, currently on a break with Sweden’s GAIS. The camp also features CPL players such as Noah Abatneh, Shola Jimoh, and Tiago Coimbra, with Abatneh and Coimbra having received accolades in the league.
Young talent Marius Aiyenero, who competes for Los Angeles FC 2 in the MLS Next Pro league, has been selected as a training player. Aiyenero, a Canadian youth international, has shown promise with notable performances in international competitions.
Marcelo Flores, a player at Tigres UNAL in Mexico, has transitioned from a training role in the previous camp to a full invitation this time around. Flores, born in Georgetown, Ont., to a Canadian mother and Mexican father, has represented Mexico at the senior level but is eligible for a one-time FIFA switch to play for Canada.
Marsch, along with his coaching staff and guest coaches, will lead the team in the camp, aiming to strengthen Canada’s performance against Guatemala and prepare for the upcoming World Cup. The camp provides a crucial opportunity for Marsch to work closely with his players before the FIFA international windows in March and June leading up to the World Cup commencement on June 11.